Saturday, June 17, 2017

USS Fitzgerald/ACX Crystal Collision- Missing Sailors Presumed Dead

I expected to see this curious accident, Seven US Navy Sailors Unaccounted for in Crash off Japanese Coast , top of the news heap this morning. Instead, I had to search for it.(Hubby told me as I was finishing up this has now made it to google news as one of the top stories- Most likely because it's been all over social media since yesterday when I put up the first post)

The missing sailors are presumed dead. The US is tight lipped on what happened. It seems sensible to me that it is already known, with enough certainty, how this occurred,The Phillipino crew is awaiting questioning. Or debriefing aka getting your story straight?The US is going to want to manage the narrative around this incident in a specific self serving manner. There is no way the US wants the Navy looking inept, incompetent or grossly negligent. Especially when one considers the loss of life.

In a statement released on social media,
US Navy operations chief Adm John Richardson said: "As more information
is learnt we will be sure to share it with the Fitzgerald families and when appropriate the public. [...]

Below is the ACX Crystal- and the damage to it caused by the collision with the Fitzgerald

I cannot comprehend how it is that these two ships made this type of contact or any physical contact- Carelessness. Playing 'chicken'. US arrogance. Over dependence on technology.
I don't know!

The Japanese coastguard said the ACX Crystal weighed just under 30,000 tonnes, about three times that of the USS Fitzgerald.It sustained lighter damage to its port bow, and has now reached Tokyo.The Associated Press agency said there were no injuries reported among the 20 Filipino crew members on board the container ship.

The area where the collision took place is extremely busy, with shipping heading in and out of Tokyo bay.

However, the USS Fitzgerald is one of the most advanced warships in the world - with highly sophisticated radars systems.

At
the moment the focus is on the search for the missing sailors. Later
will come the investigation into how one of the world's most
sophisticated warships failed to avoid colliding with a 30,000-tonne
cargo ship on a calm, clear night.

The USS Fitzgerald crew should have been able to see this ship, visually, without technological assistance and maneuver away- Why didn't that happen?

Marine Route of the ACX Crystal

I think the routing map is pretty useless, but, I'm putting it here. It's like a news story with no context.
Where was the Fitzgerald? What was it's route? We don't get to know at this time.

Penny There is something very wrong with the accident damage profile. ACX Crystal damage on Port Side front BowDamage
to Fitzgerald on STARBOARD side well behind the Bow in fact near the
Bridge. The ships traveling towards each other would have the damage on
the SAME side. Ships traveling in the smae direction would have the
damage on opposite sides, however the damage pattern would be pushed
FORWARD on the Destroyer, yet it looks to be pushed back. This I am
having trouble explaining to myself. (I am an ex seaman from the '60's)
Perhaps someone is able to explain it to me so I am able to understand
how it is possible to happen. Cheers Penny

The damage photos seem to indicate that the destroyer, at a somewhat higher speed than the container ship, was crossing the course of the latter at an angle of, very roughly, 20 degrees. It was hit by the port bow (with its anchor) and the underwater bulb of the container ship. The destroyer should then generally have manoeuvred to avoid the conflict. It is, however, not reasonable to put the blame on anyone only on the limited information released so far. In this case additional information about pre-collision manoeuvres, observations etc should be easily available to those involved.B A

aegis? countermeasures?Russia’s cutting-edge weaponry capable of ‘blinding’ enemy's armyhttp://tass.com/defense/942027This is what happened with the US destroyer Donald Cook in 2014 when the warship’s air defense systems locked on a Russian Su-24 plane. The data appearing on the warship’s radars put the crew at a loss: the aircraft would now and then disappear from radar screens or suddenly change its location and speed or create electronic clones of additional targets while the destroyer’s information and weaponry control combat systems were actually disabled. Considering that the warship was in the Black Sea some 12,000 kilometers away from the US territory, it was not difficult to imagine what the destroyer’s crew felt

reminiscent of the baltics and the black sea ross incidents

Russian Flyby of USS Donald Cook in Baltic Sea Alarms Experts"The first incident occurred April 11 while the destroyer was carrying out deck landing drills with a military helicopter from Poland. The Russian jets made “numerous, close-range and low-altitude passes” around 3 p.m., one of which was deemed unsafe by the Donald Cook’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Charles E. Hampton. As a safety precaution, flight operations were suspending until the Su-24s departed, military officials said. The following day, a Russian KA-27 Helix helicopter conducted seven circles at low altitude around the American ship about 5 p.m. About 40 minutes later, two unarmed Su-24 jets made 11 close-range and low-altitude passes by the ship, flying in “simulated attack profile” while ignoring repeated safety advisories issued by the destroyer in both English and Russian, European Command said."

Philippines military said on Friday that some of the Islamist militants who stormed Marawi City in the south of the country last month may have mingled with evacuees to slip away during the battle that has raged for nearly four weeks.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2017/Jun-16/409858-some-militants-may-have-slipped-out-of-embattled-city-philippines.ashx

AS AL QAEDA STROKE ISIS RETAKES TORA BORA CAVES, A YEAR TO DAY A SYRIAN PLANE SHOT DOWN FTER THE RUSSIAN STRIKES ON THE JORDAN BORDER GARRISON. SYRIAN TROOPS MOVING ON EZ ZOR AS RUSSIAN TURKEY SHOOT ON THE ISIS OFFENSIVE ON EX zOR. https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/06/18/Syria-troops-advance-in-Raqqa-towards-Deir-Ezzor.html

Russia just warned on striking Assad forces after the airport incidenthttps://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/06/11/Russia-tells-US-not-to-strike-Syrian-pro-government-forces-again.htmlcountry not ship. Philippines not crystal.

'The data appearing on the warship’s radars put the crew at a loss: the aircraft would now and then disappear from radar screens or suddenly change its location and speed or create electronic clones of additional targets while the destroyer’s information and weaponry control combat systems were actually disabled. Considering that the warship was in the Black Sea some 12,000 kilometers away from the US territory, it was not difficult to imagine what the destroyer’s crew felt'

FAST FORWARD TO BALTICS The following day, a Russian KA-27 Helix helicopter conducted seven circles at low altitude around the American ship about 5 p.m. About 40 minutes later, two unarmed Su-24 jets made 11 close-range and low-altitude passes by the ship, flying in “simulated attack profile” while ignoring repeated safety advisories issued by the destroyer in both English and Russian, European Command said."

U.S. Navy confirms all seven missing sailors from USS Fitzgerald found dead

Hey Penny! Thanks for posting this - had not heard about it. I've been looking for more images of both ships after the collision. All I've found regarding the ACX Crystal is the same photo you have. So I decided to read your first post regarding this story, and I was intrigued by your mentioning that, at the time, you could not find images of the ACX Crystal. The reason for my intrigue is that the photo of the ACX Crystal looks phony to me. That was my first reaction when I opened your blog before I knew what the story was. That "damage" looks phony and that anchor really looks phony.

I'm agreeing with you - there needs to be time to get the story straight, so we whisk the commander off and tell the public you'll get more info when we've got the story put together.

Also, I agree, a 30,000 ton ship only smooshed up a topside section of the Fitzgerald? How does it happen like that? What I'm not understanding, based on the photos we're given of the Fitzgerald, is how did the Crystal smoosh just the top of the Fitzgerald? Wouldn't a collision have smashed in the side of the Fitzgerald? And yeah, what happened to the radar on the Fitzgerald?

So you're thousands of miles from the scene,which occured at night, have seen but a few grainy pictures, and have decided to condemn the USN. A board of inquiry will do it's work but, since you already have issued a verdict, it's findings will matter little to you. Likely it will give you something else to accuse of coverup. If truth is what you seek, and if facts matter in seeking truth, then save your condemnation until you have those facts.

Condemnation, Joe, really? Penny is pointing out facts. As an American this story is news, yet I had not heard of it until I read it here. Why is that?

Nothing in this story passes the sniff test, Joe. The ACX Crystal is more than three times the size of the Fitzgerald. How can a collision cause the odd looking damage to both ships? We are told the Fitzgerald has state of the art radar and yet it collided with a gigantic container ship. How can that happen?

The U. S. government and its military have more than earned the skepticism it's receiving here. In fact, the correct attitude one should have to anything the government or military tells us is skepticism. Take a look at Greg Bacon's comment here. He is exactly right.

Joe B- could be part of what will be the inevitable propaganda campaign to save face- I say inevitable because this is minimally a blunder on the part of the USNavy. The technology on this ship... was top notch- this should not have occurred. And if there was a technological glitch then humans should have been doing their jobs and keeping an eye on the seas and that looked to be a fail also

The outraged will be plentiful- but the outrage is a mechanism of shutting down free discussion

This method of manipulation has occurred previously on many an occasion and will undoubtedly be repeated as necessary

I intend to write a follow up on what is filtering through the media, but, I will note the priority with which the US Navy removed the Captain and has him safely tucked away- from the media and everyone else- There are no reports he is injured or regarding his injuries- though there are reports that others were injured.

I expect social media to be flooded with perception management campaign to put a shine on this occurrence.

That's interesting. It was on our local and national news same day. But you didn't hear of it until here?? It is unfortunate that the Japanese Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, Nippon Yunsen K.K., or the Philippine contractor didn't notify the Penny Blog immediately.Bacon's remark isn't worth commenting on. If he already presumes that it will be a "Lie that will come out" then why have an investigation. Your mind has already closed the case. So why wait to hear the professional investigators, they'll be wrong and, as Abe Lincoln once wrote ". . . ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference".

I for one is located in Sweden, where the news where out on the 16th, but I have also soon numerous US sources with this news already on the 16th.If this was a "conspiracy", then why would the US keep quite about it? They'd want the news out, that would be the whole idea.And then again, there's certainly not any "phony" looks regarding the damages, and, honestly, the fact that the "limited" amount of damages is questioned just shows the lack of knowledge (sorry to say).

"only smooshed up a topside section of the Fitzgerald? How does it happen like that? What I'm not understanding, based on the photos we're given of the Fitzgerald, is how did the Crystal smoosh just the top of the Fitzgerald? Wouldn't a collision have smashed in the side of the Fitzgerald? "

Honestly? "only smooshed up a topside section"? Ever considered what's below the water line? Ever heard of a bulb stem? The most serious damages inflicted on the Fitz, is below the waterline, rest assured. This is where the first impact took place. The damages above the waterline are "secondary".

Whether it is the crew of the Fitz or the Crystal who are to be held (mostly) accountable for this accident, remains to be seen. It is certainly not certain it is the Fitz at blame.

Ever considered what's below the water line? Ever heard of a bulb stem? The most serious damages inflicted on the Fitz, is below the waterline, rest assured. This is where the first impact took place. The damages above the waterline are "secondary".

"Rest assured", Thomas? Why should I believe you? How do you know where the first impact took place? What makes you an authority? Has the USN completed its investigation already?

First thing I thought when I saw the images was that it was a deliberate collision by the Cargo ship. It actually looks from the damage on the Fitzgerald that it was hit slightly from the front. The radar track also shows this after the initial U-turn.

"deliberate collision" as stated by Anon. at 1:55 PM makes sense. Map shows back-tracking and likely aiming at sinking the Fitz. Jim Stone has sensible analysis about the REAL extent of the damage done. Lucky the Fitz didn't sink being ripped apart amidship. For more detail see http://82.221.129.208/baaasepagew3.html .

So, curiously timed anons, your both claiming the US Navy is so inept and incompetent, it's ships so cumbersome and lacking of radar and other technologies (leaving the ship blind) or skilled sailors, that any commercial ship can just sail into it.

You really find it strange that you can't track military vessels on the internet?

Do you really believe that just because a ship is a military vessle with all the latest equipment, it can always move out of the way of any other ship regardless?Honestly?

The waters where this incident occured are seeing extremely high traffic. We don't know anything about these two ships relative positions or the amount of other ships in the vicinity, their relative positons and what manouvers they may have taken. We do know however that ACX Crystal was manouvering erratically. For all we know, perhaps the Fitz avoided a far more serious accident by getting rammed the way she did. Perhaps the crew are heroes for what they did - we just don't know!

But we don't know how the Fitz was maneuvering and the Navy isn't saying

And the whole meme put out by the media immediately was the Crystal was 'erratic' with no mention of the movements of the Fitzgerald-

It's official narrative being pushed by a Navy that wants to save face for so many reasons

Who has more to lose in this entire incident?

The credibility and projection of naval power is totally blown by this incidentTherefore the Navy has the biggest reason to spin and lie- including on social media.Including on little blogs like thisGet my point?

Please pay attention to time of collision.Time given by Navy (abt 0230LT - 1730UTC) is one hour later, then time given by NYC:http://www.nyk.com/english/news/2017/1188063_1553.htmlNow please watch carrefully a rapid course alternation abt 0130LT (1630UTC) on the AIS track od Crystal:http://3kbo302xo3lg2i1rj8450xje.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Fullscreen_6_16_17__8_48_PM.jpgSubsequent "U-turn" of Cristal is just a normal (and required by law) practice to "come back" and help the other vessel involved in collicion, after assesing own demage.I am betting, that Voyage Data Recorders will confirm the time given by Crystal owners. I'm just sorry that will not fit any conspiration theories...

Hi Penny, I came across this http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/06/something_is_fishy_about_uss_fitzgerald_story_we_are_getting_from_the_media.html#.WUajKvEXDoA.facebook

Having time to think a bit as well It may well be a moral issue on board the ship. Accidents are an accumulation of lots of small errors not one big one. Poor moral would help explain the small error issues. The above article I think is the beginning of the cover story, as I find it difficult to believe the ACX Crystal deliberately rammed the Destroyer with its transponder turned OFF. There is already proof the transponder was turned ON with its tracking already in public domain. Just a few thoughts. Cheers Penny

Ok, let's play with the deliberate collision idea. As unlikely as it really is - it is still within the realm of the possible.

Fitzgerald could have been at standstill with engines off. It will take them quite awhile to start them once they've determined that Crystal will hit them.

The autopilot could have malfunctioned and not taken the Fitzgerald into account standing still. Then it's an accident pure and simple. Negligence from Fitzgeralds part sitting still near shipping lanes.

Here's a possible cause of the collision.The sonar profile of the ACX Crystal did not match the existing database profile for that ship.This raised an alarm onboard the Fitz and she got in too close while trying to get a better look at that bow bulb.Seeing this happening, the crew of the ACX Crystal, knowing that they had right of way bore down on the destroyer out of arrogance.A game of chicken maybe?

It may be that the ACX Crystal has a newly fitted bulb or it may be that this is an imposter ship.

A possible cause may be that the Sonar profile of the ACX Crystal that morning did not match the existing database profile for that ship.The Fitz moved in too close for a better look .....The crew of the ACX Crystal, knowing they had right of way, may have played an arrogant game of chicken, "as you do", with disastrous consequences.

The Crystal isn't maneuverable enough to play chicken, so that's absurd

If the Fitz moved in too close to the ACX and got hit- they are at fault. NegligenceAnd that is what will come out of this.. the captain will be charged- the US can and is covering up for the John Q Public, but, internally the leadership will be charged- I will be watching and waiting for that news

Phil I have information saved regarding the maneuverability of the lumbering Crystal.. It takes that ship nearly 30 minutes to turn itself- It's a ship that does not have the capabilities to play 'chicken" or do brinkmanship.

I understand damage control and get that's what your doing- but so far... you aren't accomplishing what it is your here to do- The damage is done and people died- Members of the Fitzgerald crew, the leadership, are responsible and they should be held responsible for what happened-

If you really believe in justice for these dead persons, the leadership of the Fitzgerald have to be accountable.

Think about this?

War is .....

WAR IS THE CONTINUATION OF STATE POLICY, BY OTHER MEANS

WAR IS A POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN WHICH VIOLENCE IS USED TO BEND THE WILL OF YOUR ENEMY TO THAT OF YOUR OWN

Stop being Manipulated by the Elites

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About Me

This blog is a place to not only post information that will never see the light of day on the mainstream media, but, also to present alternative perspectives to main stream media information, that most often presents no background, no context, and never questions the information presented.
The name I chose, Penny for your thoughts, is an invitation to readers to share their relevant thoughts on the varying information.